Picker-stick holder and power-adjusting device.



1 P. P. SLEEPER. PIGKER STICK HOLDER AND POWER ADJUSTING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED I'EB.21, 1911.

1,003,526; Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

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COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH (JO-,WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P. SLEEPER, 0F HILLSBORO, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR OF SEVEN- SIX'IEENTI-IS TO JAMES E. DOWD, OF HILLSBORO, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

PICKER-STICK HOLDER AND POWER-ADJUSTING DEVICE.

Application filed February 21, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. SLEEPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillsboro, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Picker-Stick Holder and Power-Adjusting Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved means for holding the picker stick of a loom and adjusting the power.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide for increasing the production of looms by reducing the number of delays, the extent of the delaysand the first cost of each picker stick; to provide a simple and convenient means for holding the lower end of the picker stick of such construction that a large proportion of the heaviest end of the picker stick is saved, the picker stick being mounted in a holder in such a way that the holder itself does not have to be renewed but only the picker stick of reduced length; to provide means for readily and efliciently securing the picker stick in position without making screw holes in the picker stick or otherwise reducing its strength, to provide means whereby when the new picker stick is being put on the holder keeps the bottom spring in position; to provide readily adj ustable means for holding the lug strap so as to do away with the power strap which sometimes stretches, thus causing an increase in power and resulting in breaks; to provide means whereby the power can be adjusted in much less time than heretofore by an ordinary weaver without the use of any special tools; to provide a construction in which the cost of the stud on the rocker arm is greatly reduced, the stud being slipped in and held by a set screw; and to provide a construction for securing these objects of such a form that it can very readily be attached and of so simple a construction that it cannot get out of order.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view partly in section on a parallel plane, and Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The device is designed to be mounted on Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Serial No. 609,919.

the usual rocking casting 10 on which is located a rocker 11. This rocker is provided with a pivot stud 13 on which is mounted to swing a member 14. This is shown in the form of a metal casting, but may be of any desired material. On this member below the pivot is an integral hook 15 for the spring strap 16 and extending down from the vicinity of this hook is an integral arm 17 having a curved forward surface along which the spring strap extends. The way in which this member 14: is returned to position by the spring is obvious. The member 14: constitutes a holder for the picker stick 20 which is about twenty-five per cent. shorter than is ordinarily the case, and rests at its lower end in a socket 21 in the top of the holder. Instead of boring holes or setting screws or pins into the picker stick to hold it in position, an adjustable plate 22 is mounted in the socket and is adjusted up into position to clamp the picker stick in the socket by means of screws 23. By this construction, it will be seen that about 811- inches of the heaviest part of the picker stick is saved and that it can readily be applied and fastened in position, also that its strength is increased on accountof eliminating the screw holes ordinarily employed, and that when a new picker stick is being put in, the casting holds the spring on the spring strap in position. It has been found in practice that on account of the way in which the picker stick is made and secured in position its life is increased fully 50%.

The power adjuster 25 consists of a plate having a slot 26 therethrough through which passes a thumb-screw 27 into a screw-threaded opening 28 in the wall of the socket of the picker stick holder. The power adjuster has at its upper end two integral projections 29 between which is a space 30 for receiving the lug strap 31. By this construction it will be seen' that the lug strap can readily be adjusted up and down by loosening the thumbscrew 27 and setting the power adjuster up or down as the case may require. This can be done in about half the time required under the old conditions. In this way the power strap is entirely eliminated and no tools or implements or special mechanical ability are required for adjusting the power, so it can be done preferably by the weaver. At the same time the stud on the rocker arm being slipped in and held by a set screw 12, no boring or riveting of the stick is required at this point. All these advantages result in increasing the production of the loom by reducing the delays. The power adjuster may be of metal, leather, or raw hide.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art Without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claim. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but

What I do claim is V In a device of the character described, the combination of a pivot-ed member having a socket in the upper end thereof for the lower endof the picker stick, means on one side of said socket for removably securing the picker stick thereon, a power adjuster comprising a plate having a longitudinal slot extending externally along the opposite side oi said member, and having means at the FRANK P. SLEEPER.

\Vitnesses MARK IV. BUTTRIGK, EUGENE S. LERMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

